Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Alfonso Valenzuela

Second Advisor

Werner K. Vyhmeister

Third Advisor

Ricardo Norton

Abstract

The doctrine of Christian stewardship is important for the believer and the the church. This biblical teaching covers all of the Christian experience, yet its main challenge is in its relation with money. The purpose of this dissertation was to provide a better understanding of this doctrine among Seventh-day Adventists and to encourage them to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

The methodology of this dissertation was to examine existing Protestant literature, as well as Seventh-day Adventist writings, on the topic. The theoretical section of the study covers the nature of stewardship, its biblical and theological foundations, as well as concepts that illumine it throughout Scripture. In addition, the stewardship program currently in use in the North Mexican Union was analyzed.

On the basis of the information discovered, a seven-lesson seminar on Christian stewardship was developed. Each lesson studies the principles of stewardship and takes the believer step by step to an intimate experience with the Creator. This material can be used by pastors, lay preachers, or any believer who wishes to make use of it. Christian stewardship is not only giving money to the church to fulfill its mission. Christian stewardship is an experience of fellowship with God. Its purpose is to help the believer develop a character similar to that of the Creator, whose chief characteristics are abnegation and selflessness.

The purpose of Christian stewardship is to erradicate selfishness from the human heart, in order to lead believers to a wise and disinterested administration of everything that God has given them on this earth. Faithful stewardship in temporal matters will prepare believers to administer all the wealth that will be entrusted to them for ages without end. In this sense, Christian stewardship is a life style that prepares the believer to receive eternity as a reward.

Subject Area

Seventh-day Adventists--Mexico; Christian stewardship--Biblical teaching

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

DOI

https:dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/655

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